Rival greats battle it out in Bay sun

Mark Greatbatch

Whites and baggy caps were donned, picket fences erected and Hawke's Bay wine poured as a group of former cricket legends padded up for the Art Deco match yesterday.

Captained by former New Zealand batsman Mark Greatbatch and Australian star Jeff Thomson, the game proved to be just a slice of the action set against the backdrop of sunburned hills and blue sky above the Clifton County Cricket Club.

During a player and guest lunch before the match, the greats recalled some of their fondest and funniest memories.

Former Black Caps captain and New Zealand's most recognised and respected batsman Martin Crowe recalled his debut test match where he faced the twin Australian speed demons of Thomson and Dennis Lillee.

He said after surviving to be about five not out he was told by Australian captain Greg Chappell: "Sorry mate, but Thommo and Lillee are coming on with the second new ball."

"He was pretty good about it though, old Thommo, he only hit me in the head three times in the first over," Crowe joked.

Unofficially the world's fastest bowler, Thomson, who is also a well-known fan of surfing and a laid-back lifestyle, gave his take on the importance of good training habits. "As far as I'm aware you only practise when you're going s*** ... Why would you practise if you're on fire?"

Greatbatch later recalled the four times in Thomson's career when he bowled a bouncer which carried to the sight screen on the full after hitting the pitch.

"All I wanted to be was the world's fastest bowler," said Thomson.

Crowe later talked about Saturday's highly anticipated World Cup match between Australia and New Zealand at Eden Park, Auckland. He plans to attend but said it would be the only cup match he sees.

He was "overwhelmed" by the current New Zealand team's "fearless game", encouraged by the same aggressive brand of cricket as their Aussie rivals.

"I'm not going to make a prediction, I'm just going to say it's going to be a game that we are going to feel really good that we watched and it will be a pre-cursor to, I think, a semi or a final," said Crowe.

Thomson said New Zealand and Australia had similar teams and he hoped Saturday's match was a curtain raiser to the World Cup final.

"I think South Africa just choke, every time you mention a World Cup they just choke. They s*** themselves with expectation or lack of expectation."

Former All Black Marc Ellis added later in the evening that he was well prepared to watch and cheer on the Black Caps as they attempt history during the next few weeks.

"We're quite lucky, we've got an almost boot-legging operation ... [we're] all set up in a prominent street in Auckland, I can't disclose the exact location, but we've got a big screen in there and an underground bar, bowling machine and cricket net and one or two other things."